Thursday, March 14, 2013

Becuase He Loves Me, Chapter 7

In Chapter 6 the focus was on setting our gaze upon Jesus, believing with whatever small measure of faith we possess, that HE IS.

In Chapter 7 the author, Elyse Fitzpatrick, introduces the concept of the indicative and imperative in Scripture, using Colossians 3:1-3. Indicative is what has already been indicated or declared. Imperative is a command or direction.

Some of the indicatives, or declarations in Colossians 1:1-3 are:
You are raised with Christ
You are the elect of God
You are forgiven by Christ
You are holy, beloved.

A few of the imperatives are:
Seek the things that are above
Set your mind on things that are above
Put to death fleshly deeds
Put on tender mercy, kindness, humility, forgiving others as Christ has forgiven you.

Throughout the Bible the imperatives are usually paired with an indicative, and there seems to always be a "put on" for every "put off".

Now before we jump straight to the imperatives and start making the "to do" list, adding "how to" books to the shelf or blog reader, STOP.

Look Up. Go back up to the indicative/declaratives.

What happens if we focus on the indicative? What God in Christ has done, has given, has called? And here, again, our eyes are taken off self and what self can and cannot do. Instead attention can be focused on the Author and Finisher of our faith, our very salvation.

Then in gratitude we can set out to obey, resting in the imperatives, knowing that it is God who is really at work in us. "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so that we would walk in them." Ephesians 2:10.